(a) There is hereby established the Exceptional Children Scholarship Program, which program shall be administered by the Virgin Islands Board of Education for the purpose of providing scholarship grants to the parents of exceptional children in order that they might receive enhanced educational opportunities in special programs or school facilities, within or outside the Virgin Islands, which are specifically designed for the education and training of said children.
(b) Scholarships for the education of exceptional children shall be awarded by the Board on the basis of need and upon applications therefor made by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the exceptional child. Not more than three such scholarships shall be awarded in any given year, and such scholarships shall be for a period of not to exceed four (4) years and in an amount not to exceed $8,000, to be allotted equally on an annual basis.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term “exceptional child” shall mean any child of school age who is unable to benefit sufficiently from the regular programs of instruction offered in the public schools by reason of a mental, physical or emotional impairment, whose degree or kind of disability or illness precludes attendance in a regular school setting. Before a child may be eligible for a scholarship established pursuant to this section, the Board shall certify that said child is suffering from physical or mental disability and has demonstrated exceptional abilities and the need for educational training not available within Virgin Islands' public schools.